Art teacher Ann Sparks was presented with a plaque recognizing her years of service to Fillmore Central at the April 25 school board meeting. Sparks is retiring after 21 years of teaching.
A donation in the amount of $4,536.90 for the AED, weight room, vertical testing, and timing system was accepted with gratitude by the board, as well as a donation of $1,790.00 for the Hudl Sideline and tackling rings. Both donations came from the Fillmore Central Booster Club. “A big thank you to our very generous booster club for supporting Fillmore Central,” Principal Heath Olstad expressed.
A resignation from teacher Paul Hoffman was approved, as well as a second resignation from instrumental music instructor Claire Henningsgaard.
Miranda Cox was hired as a SAC aide for the summer, and Marsha Dowe was hired as a homebound instructor for a high school student.
Andrew Pederson was approved as the assistant football coach, David Broadwater as the b-squad football coach, Aaron Janssen as the ninth grade football coach, Tim Ostrom as the eighth grade football coach, Tris Tollefson as the seventh grade football coach, and Kari Berg as the dance coach for fall sports.
Special education service contracts with Ericksen Hearing Services, LLC for audiology services, Southern Minnesota Education Consortium for vision, psychology, and deaf/hard of hearing services were approved by the board for the 2017-18 school year.
Ethan Lapham was hired as the summer agriculture instructor. Lapham’s contract already covers up to 10 days of summer work. The board approved eight additional days for a total of up to 18 days.
Custodians Anita Clark and Peyton Breitsprecher swapped their positions. Clark is now be covering the part-time daycare cleaning position, which was formerly covered by Breitsprecher and Breitsprecher took over the full-time shift at both the Harmony and Preston locations for Clark. The board approved the switch.
The annual resolution placing support staff on seasonal leave was approved. Staff will be called back in August according to the district’s 2017-18 school year needs.
Due to bad weather, students missed five days of school during the current school year. The first day missed was excused as the district’s policy indicates and the next three will be made up. The students’ last day of school will be Tuesday, June 6, and the last teacher day will be Wednesday, June 7.
A quote in the amount of $4,600 from Torgerson-Ostby was approved for new window shades in the high school stage gym and north wing of the high school.
The senior class trip was a big success, with reports that the 2017 seniors’ 10-day trip had the best weather ever experienced on the annual tour.
The state testing has been going well with only a couple of glitches with the computer system.
The band and choir students participated in the Minnesota State High School League’s small group contest in Rushford on April 20.
Kindergarten roundup was held on April 10. Thirty-one children have been registered to start kindergarten in the fall of 2017 so far. The number is lower than it has been in the last few years, but still pretty good.
Twelve Fillmore Central students will be attending the special athletic competition in Winona on May 19, along with a staff member to assist each student. The kindergarten class will also be in Winona that day for their field trip, so will stop at the competition to support the athletes.
The parent educator position for ECFE is still open, and applications are being accepted.
The Meet and Confer Committee met with some teachers to discuss their questions and suggestions. Requests were made to work on communication between the administration and support staff.
Due to the Senior Awards Ceremony on May 23, the next Fillmore Central school board meeting will be moved from 6:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. that evening.